Town mayor hires Campaign Against Political Correctness to ditch 'patronising' words

A town's mayor has brought in 'experts' to root out political correctness in his council, targeting groups aimed at ethnic minorities and women.

Doncaster's elected mayor Peter Davies has drafted in Laura and John Midgley, from the Campaign Against Political Correctness, to see what can be ditched.

Among the groups they have already identified as too politically correct are an ethnic minorities welfare rights service and a racial multi-agency partnership.

They will also be looking to see if Doncaster Council bans the use of any specific words by staff.

Doncaster mayor Peter Davies (centre) is working with Laura and John Midgley from the Campaign Against Political Correctness

'Some councils ban staff from addressing people as "love", a ban which
I believe to be patronising,' said Mr Davies. 'Another council had
banned the word "ladies", preventing people starting speeches with
"ladies and gentlemen".'

The mayor rejected any suggestion that the move to bring in the
campaigners was 'racist', saying: 'I have brought them in for advice on rooting
out political correctness.'

Mr Midgley said it was the first
time the organisation had been asked by an authority to come and give
advice, although they had been asked for advice from concerned
councillors in the past.

He said: 'What we've got in Mr
Davies is a mayor who has been elected on a promise to reduce and,
where possible, eliminate political correctness in Doncaster. The
people of Doncaster are crying out for this just as people are
throughout the country.

'We've got plenty of examples where expensive political correctness takes place in Doncaster, like the ethnic minority welfare rights service. At the end of the day, people of all backgrounds may have an entitlement to things like council tax benefit or housing and there is no need to have one separate unit for one group in particular.'

He has also raised the borough's Racial Multiagency Partnership as an example of political correctness that they feel could be removed and will also be looking at groups aimed only at women.

The council describes it as a partnership of core agencies, which provide a coordinated response to racist incidents. It was formed in January 2005 in response to Home Office guidance.

Mr Midgley said: 'People should call the police rather than go to a separate agency.

'They are experts on the subject, and political correctness is a complete drain on public expenditure. It is completely unnecessary, and it is universally unpopular.

'At the moment I haven't decided what specific actions to take.

'All my policies are aimed at cohesion, not division, and it is political correctness that leads to division and ghettos. My policies will lead to harmony.'

Mr and Mrs Midgley are not being paid for their advice.

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Town mayor drafts in 'experts' in bid to axe political correctness for minorities and women